Automobile headlight dimming device



July 19, 1932. D, OW 1,867,648

AUTOMOBILE HEADIJIGHT DIMMING DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1929 //\/VE/V TOR 0. BROWN Patented July 19, 1932 warren STATES DIMMIcK BROWN, 0F BARBIE, ONTARIO, CANADA,H:ASSIG1\T0:R*T0)MARVEL imam- Irena.

LIMITED, or TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA-,A CORPORATION ior-oavyranro AUTOMOBILE IIEADLIeHciiQpIIuMING DEVICE;

V Application-filed December 6, I929. "Serial lirt i. 412,164, 1 r

My invention relates to improvements in automobile headlight dimming devices, and the object of the invention is to devise means for interrupting certain of the light rays projected from the light source against the surface of the reflector so as to break up the reflecting field and thereby eliminate the glare usually produced thereby, and it consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter more particularly explained.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a headlight showing my dimming. device applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the dimming device removed from the headlight.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail through a headlight with my dimming device applied thereto.

In the drawing like characters of reference indicate. corresponding parts in each figure.

1 indicates a headlight of any suitable construction provided with the usual reflector 2 and lens 3 secured in the reflector by means of the usual locking rim 4. The reflector 2 is provided with the usual out-turned flange 2* which is held in position in the usual manner between the front edge of the headlight casing and locking rim 4. 5 is the light source of the headlight which usually consists of an incandescent bulb supported centrally within the reflector.

I will now describe my dimming device which comprises an annular member 6 which is in the form of a collar provided with an out-turned flange 7 which is inserted between the flange 2 and locking rim. 4 when the headlight is assembled. 8 is a vane which extends horizontally and diametrically across the reflector and is provided with an edge recess?) extending inwardly from its inner edge. The outer edge of the vane is a straight edge located in the plane of the reflector face, the opposite or inner edge curving inwardly at each end to each side of the bulb centre and to each side of the aforesaid recess 9.

By means of the vane 8 the downwardly directed rays which are reflected upward are again directed down by the lower face of the vane on to the road surface, such rays being thereby difiused laterally so as to give a broad portion ofthe rays which are usually reflectfield of vision directly infront of the car :so that the driver can clearly see any objects directly ahead. V

10 and 11 are transverse members located above and below the vane 8, such members being bowed in opposite directions so as to form concave surface directed towards the light source. The transverse members 10 and 11 are provided with inwardly extending fingers 12 and 13 which incline inwardly and .1

in slightly converging direction so as to fit within the reflector and forming a comb like structure, the central. fingers fitting closely around the light source at their extreme ends. The outer face fingers 12 and 13 are polished so as to form reflector surfaces. Thus rays from the light source which pass through the/ interspaces between the fingers 12 and 13 and are received on the surface of the reflector are reflected-forward in the usual manner.

Those rays which are caught on the reflecting surfaces of the fingers are spread in an upward and downward direction so as to more or less'difiuse the light, and at the same time, prevent such rays from passing tothe surface of the reflector to be reflected forward, the other rays being projected from the surface of the reflector 2.

It' will thus be seen that a relatively small ed directly forward by the headlight'refiector and which produce the glare are so reflected thereby reducing the intensity of the light field and, therefore eliminating the glare. The ends of the fingers extending directly around the light source 5 may be connected together by a wire ring 14 to which the fingers may be soldered or otherwise suitably secured, the Wires extending outward therefrom at diametricallv opposite sides to secure the other fingers together.

-What I claim as my invention is? 1. In a headlight including a reflector and light source, a pair of opposing transversely curved plates, a plate being located above andbelow the light source each provided with fingers or teeth forming a comb like are forming the reflector surface above and below the light source.

2. In a headlight including a reflector and light source, a pair of opposed transversely 5 curved plates, a plate being located above and below the light souroe eachprovided with fingers or' teeth having a comb like structure the forward face of the plate and teeth forming reflecting surfaces and set in the rem fiector to coincide with chords of the arc forming the reflector surface above and below the light'source, and a transverse vane having upper and lower reflecting surfaces interposed at its inner edge between the meet- 15 ing edges of the fingers of the opposing curved plates.

i o DIMMICK BROWN.

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